Yvonne Gaissmaier
Advisory
On boards and advisory boards
The commercial perspective that many boards are missing.
Many boards are well staffed on finance, law, governance and industry knowledge. They are weaker where the growth decisions get shaped: whether the strategy adds up commercially, whether the business model has a future and how management can shape the transformation effectively.
That's the capability I bring, from my own operating and strategic experience. Particularly in PE-backed companies, where commercial value creation and management's ability to execute decide how the holding period turns out.
Growth & strategy execution
Whether the strategy delivers and the company can execute it.
Commercial excellence
Customer focus, sales strength, go-to-market, pricing, commercial firepower.
Transformation & leadership team
How change succeeds and whether leadership acts as a team.
Mandates and experience
Mandates in corporate structures and in SMEs, under Swiss and German governance systems.
AEB SE, SaaS Software for Global Trade (DE): Chair of the Advisory Board (since 2019).
Amcor Flexibles Singen GmbH, Packaging (DE): Non-executive director (2017 – 2021).
Amcor Flexibles Kreuzlingen AG, Packaging (CH): Non-executive director (2015 – 2021).
In addition: consulting work and leadership roles reporting to the executive board meant regular work with boards of directors, so I know board dynamics from the management side too.
Formal grounding through the Mannheim Business School / Spencer Stuart Directors Forum; member of the Swiss Institute of Directors
My contribucation to boards
Listen first, look closely, understand. Then ask the questions, including the uncomfortable ones, and stay with them. Demanding, but respectful. Interested in people and in the system, which is where results come from. And in lasting impact rather than the short-term kind.
Where I contribute most
Industries
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Packaging
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MedTech and medical device
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Sustainability-focused industrial companies
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Metals and materials
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Software-enabled products
Situations
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Growth and transformation
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Value creation plan
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Scaling and international expansion
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New business models